After a state subsidy stalled in approvals, officials now are trying to get the funding through budget earmarks
Paula Gardner
Paula directs the business reporting on Bridge, writing much of it and setting the strategy for how statewide business coverage fits into Bridge’s nonpartisan policy-driven editorial mix. Paula came to Bridge in 2020 after several years at MLive.com, where she covered the state on both business and environmental teams. Prior to that, she was editor of the Ann Arbor News and news director of online startup AnnArbor,com, and also focused on business news as an editor and reporter at Michigan Business Review. Born and raised in metro Detroit, Paula moved to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan, and has lived in the city for 20 years with her husband, who grew up in their neighborhood. Paula also regularly visits East Lansing and Grand Rapids to visit her college-aged children. She can be reached at pgardner@bridgemi.com
Posted inBusiness Watch
Whitmer subsidy record: Companies get $1 billion; jobs fall short of promises
Since Gretchen Whitmer became governor, Michigan has given $995 million to companies that promised to create 65,000 jobs. They’ve produced 13,000 — a rate of $76,000 per job, a Bridge investigation finds.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Top 10 subsidies under Whitmer: Michigan spends $900M; firms create 4,200 jobs
Ten mega projects have dominated economic development under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Most involve electric vehicles, remain behind schedule and have created one-fifth of the 25,000 jobs corporations promised.
Posted inBusiness Watch
After $1B and mixed results, Michigan lawmakers cooling on corporate incentives
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has pressed for more money for job-creating subsidies. But after some deals sputtered, lawmakers say it’s time for reforms.
Posted inTalent & Education
Attention MSU fans: Huge Sparty for sale. One catch: Must have 30-foot wall
An auction that launched Thursday will ‘go Green’ for MSU’s athletics department as the school’s surplus store seeks buyers for the iconic images from three outdated football stadium scoreboards.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan OKs $290M in public funding for 2 ‘transformative’ city projects
Developers in Southfield and Muskegon will be reimbursed for more than half the upfront costs of creating large mixed-use neighborhoods. Payback via tax increases could take 30 years.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Trump announces new auto tariffs; what it means for Michigan
President Donald Trump announced 25% tariffs targeting the auto industry Wednesday, the latest in a series of trade escalations that could have an outsize impact on Michigan’s economy.
Posted inBusiness Watch
GM, LG Energy Solution to divvy up state subsidy, still pledge 3,200 new jobs
The state doled out $600 million in its first mega-subsidy deal. Now, sale of a Lansing battery factory has prompted an award split between GM and LG Energy Solution.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Vance to tout ‘industrial resurgence’ at plant whose new jobs pay $20 an hour
The vice president comes to Michigan for the first time since the election on Friday. He’s visiting a Bay City-area plant that received a $1.2 million subsidy from the state to create 93 jobs that pay less than Michigan’s median.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Plans stall for $400M green hydrogen gigafactory in suburban Detroit
An uncertain market and green energy rollbacks prompt Nel Hydrogen to hit brakes on building in Plymouth Township.